Gearbox |
functional creative
Case Study
College of
Saint Benedict
AAF of Central Minnesota
Judge’s Choice
Illuminating Lives Campaign
Project Overview
Illuminating Lives was an eight-year initiative to raise $100 million for the College of Saint Benedict. It was the largest campaign in the college’s history. The goals of the campaign were ambitious, but critically important:
1. To make Saint Ben’s more accessible to women from all walks of life by building a solid financial foundation for scholarships (95% of all CSB students receive financial help through scholarships)
2. To fund stipends that make unpaid internships feasible for low-income students
3. To improve learning by funding programs and making updates to academic spaces
The campaign began internally in 2012 with branding work that ushered in the arrival of then-president, Mary Dana Hinton, and an initiative to celebrate and strengthen the college’s ability to illuminate lives.
In 2018, it evolved into a comprehensive public-facing campaign. We reached potential donors through a host of print materials, direct mail efforts and a branded website that illustrated the real-life impact of the campaign’s goals by sharing personal stories in videotaped “Bennie Conversations.”
What we did
Campaign Branding
Web Content
Collateral Materials
Direct Mail
Environmental
In the summer of 2020, the campaign crossed a triumphant finish line by exceeding its original goal by nearly $13 million dollars.
The Illuminating Lives Final Campaign Total:
$112,908,090
In the summer of 2020, the campaign crossed a triumphant finish line by exceeding its original goal by nearly $13 million dollars.
The Illuminating Lives Final Campaign Total:
$112,908,090
Heather Pieper-Olson
Associate Vice President, College of Saint Benedict
“Gearbox has done the work and taken the time to develop a deep understanding of our brand and its vision. Their creative work elevated our Illuminating Lives fundraising campaign with design and messaging that was authentic, engaged audiences and brought record-breaking results. Having a partner who can strategize and execute which such intention and talent is invaluable. They’ve played an integral role in our everyday success.”
Fundraising for higher education or non-profits is about aligning people to your mission and calling them to action. When we evoke a clear story that generates an emotional connection, we can move people to attend, like, join and give. This is the heart of fundraising marketing and an essential component to any successful campaign.
Whether you’re marketing to potential donors or potential customers, we can help you reach your audience and tell a compelling story so you hit your goals. Connect with us now!